Halfway through the regular season, the Class 2A playoff picture is starting to take shape. Eight teams get in the bracket this year with the top four seeds hosting first round games. In our mind, Delta and Sterling locked up top four seeds with wins last weekend and Resurrection Christian is highly likely to grab the third. The last top four berth could be determined this week when #4 Lamar makes the nearly 300-mile trek to #5 Pagosa Springs on Saturday. PHOTO BY JOHN CONTRERAS
Both clubs are 3-0 with Pagosa Springs #5 in RPI and Lamar #6. While the winner gains some seeding advantage, the loser is also a likely a playoff team but may have travel in the opening round. Scenarios for both could obviously change based on future results for them and other clubs around the state.
The game could come down on whether Lamar can stop the Pagosa Springs running game. If successful, the Savages have more than enough firepower on offense to win the game. It’s just a matter of how many chances they get.
Pagosa Springs averages 346 yards per game on the ground and the ability to move the chains allows them to control time of possession. Through three games, they’ve conducted 175 plays compared to just 115 for their opponents; an advantage of 20 per game. Individually, Dylan Tressler picks up 208 yards per game; totaling 623 yards with five scores on the season. QB Grant Aucoin is next with 300 yards and eight scores.
If the running game is stuffed a bit, Aucoin does have the ability to throw the football. In 2019, he threw for 787 yards and seven scores. When called on this year, he’s thrown for 169 yards and two scores. Most of those passes are directed to Mitch Lewis who has 13 catches for 291 yards and both scores. The rest of the team has six catches for 79 yards.
Lamar averages 39 points per game and while Pagosa Springs looks to control the ball, the Savages have the ability to score from anywhere on the field. QB Zane Rankin is a dual threat; combining for 657 yards and nine touchdowns overall. His top target is Blake Buxton who leads the Savages with 12 catches for 284 yards and four scores. The run game gets great contribution from both Damian Ramos (286 yards) and Jesus Reyes (176).
Highly anticipated games like this one can also turn on a big play on defense or special teams. Lamar may have the advantage there as they’ve created a dozen turnovers through three games; compared to just six for the Pirates. Ramos (3) and Rankin (2) have combined for five interceptions and five different players have recovered a fumble. The Savages are led in tackles by Devyn Kincaide (32) and Greyden Martinez (23). Will Aucoin and Caleb Laverty pace Pagosa Springs with 18 tackles apiece and three others are in double figures.
Another attractive top 10 battle is found between #1 Resurrection Christian (3-0) and #8 University (2-1) on Friday. The top ranked Cougars get a lot of attention for their high-powered offense but the defense has not allowed a point through three games. Tanner Applebee is the leader. The senior has 20 tackles with 6.5 sacks including four in last week’s win over Englewood. He also has 10 tackles for loss. Christian Scandrett is the team leader in tackles with 22 and Eddie Lemos has three interceptions.
Last week’s win over Englewood (32-0) elevated the Cougars up to #9 in RPI but much higher respect from all other polls make them a top four seed in our mind right now. They ran for 242 yards with five touchdowns against Englewood but were pushed a bit as the lead at halftime was just 12 points (12-0).
University will get a chance to compare two of the best teams in the division as they’re facing their second #1 club in three weeks. Delta was ranked number one when the Bulldogs suffered a 31-21 loss in week two and now Resurrection Christian sits atop the rankings this week.
In between, University scored a 26-14 win over Severance; collecting 320 yards rushing including 155 from Kyle Jones and 124 from Caden Measner. The defense also forced five turnovers; something they may need to do again this week to grab an upset.
A third top 10 clash is found in the Northeast where #6 Eaton (2-1) heads to #10 Brush (1-2) on Saturday. The Beetdiggers moved into the rankings last week but that was before they lost to Berthoud (22-21) in overtime earlier this week. The loss drops Brush to 1-2 and likely puts them in a must-win situation the rest of the season. And that’s a tough position as they have Eaton this week followed by big tests against Severance and Platte Valley over the following two.
Eaton handled Fort Lupton 55-0 last week; taking out some frustration from the Sterling loss in week two. The Reds average 210 yards rushing and have reached the end zone 12 times there. Ethan Florez and Scott Grable each have four touchdowns and Salvador Rojas three. On defense, the Reds are led by Morgan Tribbett with 22 tackles including 8.5 for loss. Florez has 21 tackles and Juan Maravilla 20. Gage Butler has also intercepted four passes for a defense that has forced eight turnovers.
Berthoud (2-0) could easily replace Brush in the rankings next week especially if they follow up the Tuesday win with another against Severance this week. It should be a good game. The Silver Knights (2-1) played well in last week’s loss to University and like the Spartans, will become a playoff contender with a win.
Tristan Youngblood tossed a TD in the second overtime against Brush and then helped the Spartans score the game winning two-point conversion. The Spartans were #18 in RPI before the game but should be higher when new numbers are released next week.
#2 Delta returns home to meet Englewood this week. The Panthers, as mentioned, probably secured a home playoff game in round one by beating Woodland Park 27-2 last week. The meeting likely involved the top two teams from the Western division. QB Nolan Bynum performed at a high level; throwing for 273 yards and three TDs while adding 95 yards and a fourth score on the ground. Colton Johnson added 87 yards rushing while the trio of Colbi Braslin (6), Noah Nortnik (5) and Nathan Scharnhorst (5) combined for 16 catches. Scharnhorst finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Englewood, like University, gets a first hand look at two of the best teams in Class 2A. They fell to Resurrection Christian last week and now face the Panthers on Friday. The Pirates struggled to move the football last week but will be a tough out on the road.
#3 Sterling arguably has had the best three week stretch in Class 2A. The Tigers are 3-0 with wins coming against Brush, Eaton and Platte Valley. As we said at the top, Sterling likely became a top four seed with last week’s 31-21 win over the Broncos. That win wasn’t easy as they jumped to a 18-0 first quarter lead and held off the Broncos down the stretch. Kaden Sheets threw for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Two went to Jackson Keil with Peyton Rose and Tucker Myers each also latching on to a scoring toss. Keil ended the night with seven catches for 63 yards and also ran for 86 yards. Peyton Rose caught six passes for 49 yards and Myers went for four and 105.
Next up for the Tigers is a good Valley Vikings group that has won two straight. For comparison, the Vikings lost to Platte Valley 34-6 in week one but seem to be a much better club here in week four. They’ve won two straight. The Vikings have also faced an opponent featuring a four wide receiver set on most plays. They beat D’Evelyn 31-25 but also surrendered 429 yards passing. That number has to be much lower this week for the Vikings to upset the defending state champions.
#7 Platte Valley (2-1) should return to the win column against Fort Lupton (0-3). The Bluedevils’ schedule doesn’t help them as losses have come against University, Brush and Eaton; all who have spent time in the Top 10. Now they line up against a Broncos team who is frustrated following last week’s loss to Sterling. Despite that result, the Broncos are still #3 in RPI and would easily be a playoff team if the bracket was released this week.
#9 Woodland Park (2-1) is another ranked team looking to bounce back. They’ll be favored at Moffat County but the distance to the game (230 miles) could pose some issues.
The Bobcats dropped to #8 in RPI with the loss and had trouble moving the football against Delta; generating just 77 yards rushing and 88 passing. Five of their six touchdowns this season have come through the air with Mason Pyles connecting for three and Collin Kucera two.
Moffat County (1-1) is #13 in RPI, but a win this week changes their playoff outlook. They scored 28 first quarter points in last week’s win over Elizabeth and hope for a repeat of that effort his week. Caleb Frink ran for 168 yards and also caught two touchdown passes. Ryan Peck threw for 195 yards and three scores with the third going to Ethan Hafey. Hafey also topped the defense with 12 tackles.
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